Second anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine   |24 February 2024

“We stand united in our support of Ukraine in the face of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified aggression and the illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories by the Russian Federation, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter. Russia is violating international law and undermining global security and stability.

“We deplore the loss of life and the human suffering. At least 10,000 civilians have been killed, and nearly 20,000 have been injured since Russia launched its war of aggression against Ukraine on February 24, 2022 (United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, January 2024). The military death toll is significantly higher and going into hundreds of thousands.

“Ukraine has suffered a huge displacement of its people: from remarks by the head of the UN in Ukraine, there are 4.5 million internally displaced persons in Ukraine and 5.9 million people fled across borders and found safety and refuge in Europe.

“On March 2, 2022, in the UN General Assembly, 141 countries – an overwhelming majority of UN members – supported the resolution condemning Russia for its brutal aggression.

“On October 12, 2022, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution by a large majority of 143 countries, calling on countries not to recognise the four regions of Ukraine, which Russia has claimed, and demanding that Moscow reverse course on its "attempted illegal annexation”.

“On February 23, 2023 in the UN General Assembly, an overwhelming majority of 141 countries called for restauration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Ukraine is the country that was brutally invaded. A Ukraine-driven process like the Peace Formula, rooted in international law and with accountability for Russia’s actions, should be the basis for all of our efforts to end the war.
“Russia and its leadership must be held fully accountable for waging a war of aggression against Ukraine and for other most serious crimes under international law, as well as for the massive damage caused by its war.

“We stand by Ukraine and thank all countries that uphold international law, including the UN Charter, condemning the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.”

Joint statement by the Ambassadors of the European Union Oskar Benedikt and France Olivia Berkeley-Christmann

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this statement are those of the writers and do not represent the views of the Seychelles NATION newspaper.